Kim
Sheahan has been a central Illinois educator since 1991, incorporating
oral traditions into her multicultural programs at the University of
Illinois' Spurlock Museum. She added freelance storytelling about ten years later and has performed folktales and one-woman shows at storytelling festivals, school assemblies, city-wide celebrations, personal parties, and gatherings of all kinds ever since. Her enthusiasm is both unmistakable and
contagious. Let her share the joy and power of the tale with you at your next
special event.

Upcoming Dates

Crafternoon

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Spurlock Museum

600 S. Gregory

Urbana, IL

Join us between 1:00 and 3:30 PM for an afternoon of storytelling and holiday crafts.Storytelling sets at 1:15, 2:00, and 3:00 PM.

Free admission.

Feeding the Body and Soul

Saturday, December 1, 2018 • 7:30 PM

Wesley United Methodist Church

1302 W. Green

Urbana, IL

This is a benefit for the Wesley Church Food Bank. Tellers are Kath Brinkmann, Linds Dust, Camille Born, Kim Sheahan, Elaine Bearden, and Kate McDowell.

Free admission.

Just a Few Fond Memories

Young Authors Conference 2017

It is such an honor when I am asked to tell at the Illinois Young Authors Conference in Bloomington. I have told there multiple years now and am always thrilled when I am asked to return. I love meeting the student authors and the adult authors and parents who inspired them. My favorite part is hearing the titles some of the kids give their stories. My favorite this year was "Sensei Potato!"

Honoring Civil War Nurses at "The Taste of C-U"

This picture is from the debut of my first performance as a fictional
historical character. As Abigail Westinghouse, I talked about my
experiences as a Civil War nurse and related the exploits of Mary Ann
"Mother" Bickerdyke, a true-life Civil War nurse from Galesburg,
Illinois. Though I thought I was going to pass out performing in the
summer heat in my petticoats and crinoline, I had a wonderful time and
hope to put together more performances like these for the future.

After a concert for the Tuscola Boy Scouts:

Word is spreading about how much I love to tell at Boy Scout summer camps, and this year I got to tell stories for the Tuscola camp. The theme was "Knights in Shining Armor," so I told a knight and dragon story, a haunted castle story, and a story about a duck who becomes king. The boys were terrific! It's always great to hear an audience yell, "Tell another one!"

The Transforming Arts of Papua New Guinea

In the fall, 2009, the Spurlock Museum (where I am Assistant
Director of Education), displayed a wonderful temporary exhibit entitled "The
Transforming Arts of Papua New Guinea." The exhibit was a discussion of
how contemporary artists are using traditional objects and motifs to
discuss modern issues of unity and tolerance. I was very happy to have
included in the exhibit a computer kiosk where visitors could learn
more about PNG and the artists highlighted.
Also on the kiosk were my performances of three traditional
folktales. If you would like to see and hear the folktales, they are now online at http://www.spurlock.illinois.edu/explorations/online/papua/tales/index.html.
The Museum hosts a variety of special events each year, and
storytelling is often involved. You can find out about upcoming events
at the Museum's website, www.spurlock.illinois.edu.

Quest for Freedom: 1850s/1950s

I was so pleased to share the stage with Camille Born for the program Quest for Freedom: 1850's/1950s. Camille started with A Rocking Chair and a Trunk, a story that chronicles the experiences of a family whose house served as a station on the Underground Railroad. I finished the concert premiering my newest historical program A Place to Live. In the program I portray civil rights activist Anne Braden, who, with her husband Carl, purchased a house in a white Louisville, Kentucky neighborhood for an African-American family in 1954. Their story is so important, and I was thrilled to be able to bring it to a new audience.

This program is appropriate for audiences high school and older. To read more about Anne, visit http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0308-01.htm.

Reaction to A Place to Live:

"I thought your story and delivery were compelling. What a powerful story."

Kath Brinkmann • Storyteller

My First Northlands Storytelling Conference

It was amazing to share the stage with some wonderful tellers and to perform The Tiger's Whisker, one of my favorite stories. Thank you to everyone for their kind words of support afterward. Special thanks to Karen Wollscheid, the Northlands executive director, for allowing me to share her review:

"Your
wonderful voice and delivery style lets the story be the star, not the
person telling it. In my opinion that makes the best kind of
storyteller. I hope to hear your stories again very soon!"

A Place to Live

I was asked to perform my one-woman concert on Anne Braden to the members of the American Association of University Women. What a great audience! Here is one of the wonderful comments I received...

"We were delighted with your performance at our Wine, Women and Song
fundraiser on Saturday. I've heard many compliments from the folks who
attended, and they appreciated the way you brought this serious subject
to life. It gave an emotional impact to something we understand
intellectually but haven't experienced personally ourselves. I will
certainly recommend you as a program presenter to other groups."

Phyllis Cline, AAUW

Selected Public Performances

Northlands Storytelling Conference

National Storytelling Conference

Illinois Young Authors Conference*

Illinois State Fair Kid's Korner*

Taste of Champaign-Urbana*

Big Grove Storytelling Festival*

Bluestem Storytelling Festival

Chinquapin Folk Music & Storytelling Festival

New Salem Storytelling Festival

Verde Gallery Spoken Word Series*

The Teller's Art Series*

Allerton Park Ghost Story Concerts*

University of Illinois Chatauqua

Parkland College Staerkel Planetarium*

*designates multi-year appearances

What People Say About Kim's Performances

"Again, you blew me away. Your wonderful voice and delivery style lets
the story be the star, not the person telling it. In my opinion that
makes the best kind of storyteller. I hope to hear your stories again
very soon!" Karen Wollscheid • Northlands Storytelling Network

"I thought your story and delivery were compelling. What a powerful story."

Reaction to A Place to Live • Kath Brinkmann

“Kim is a terrific storyteller, and she held the audience captive for the entire presentation.” Ava Wolf • Scout leader